Democrat Nan Walden pulls plug on Congressional try

Democrat Nan Walden said Tuesday that she won’t run in Congressional District 2.

Walden, a pecan-farm executive, said in a press release she was contemplating a run but opted against it after consideration and discussion with her family.

Her announcement comes a day after fellow Democrat Ron Barber said he will run in CD2 later this year. Barber is running unopposed in the Democratic primary for the Congressional District 8 special election, but held off on announcing his plans for CD2 until yesterday.

Walden said she will work hard to help get Barber elected. Walden and her husband, Dick Walden, run Farmers Investment Co., in Sahuarita.

Walden is the second potential Barber opponent to drop out in the last two days. State Rep. Steve Farley dropped out on Monday and threw his support behind Barber. Farley said he plans to run for state Senate in District 9, he said.

But Barber won’t be running unopposed. He will face at least two opponents for the Democratic nomination in the newly created CD2, which covers southeastern Arizona. State Sen. Paula Aboud and State Rep. Matt Heinz both plan to stay in the race.

Nomiki Konst, a former University of Arizona student who founded an organization dedicated to civil discourse, has yet to announce if she will stay in the race.

The primary for the regular election is Aug. 28. The general election is Nov. 6.